Coopers European - now smelling.

[Chris]

Hi,

Today I got myself a Coopers European brew, I usually use sugar, but part of the instructions say:

Avoid using too much simple sugar (white sugar or dextrose) with this product as the lager yeast will ferment more thoroughly causing the beer to lack in body.

So what should I use instead :| , bloke at the brew shop said just use sugar.. I plan on keeping this till xmas by the way. My other plan is to get a kit on the go the minute the last one is bottled, got to get the xmas stock up! :lol:


Cheers :thumb:

 

[markp]

For a lager, maybe replace the sugar with extra light dried malt extract.
I'm only a relative learner myself though, so I hope one of the more experienced could add to this.

 

[Chris]

Thanks Mark .

so I hope one of the more experienced could add to this.

Does anyone else have any input here please? :)

 

[ni9e]

Try using the beer kit enhancer from wilko's its 50% spray malt and 50% dextrose this should give the lager more body

 

[grinchy]

i've just completed the european lager, its now 4 weeks old. I used brewers sugar and it is fabulous!!

I have also been told that the beer enhancer is good, but to be honest i was more than happy with the result i had from the brewing sugar.

 

[paulbrrtt]

I use the wilkos BKE just started another today cant fault it

 

[Chris]

I started this off on Saturday, everything well sterilised with hot water (not too hot to the touch though), rinsed as usual in running cold water, I know everything is as clean as can be.

I added everything as per the instructions but added a little extra sugar, however last night (24 hours on) is started to smell like an 'eggy-fart / sulphur' smell. It wasn't really really bad, but enough for me to notice it when I walked in the kitchen, also when I walked through the hallway this morning (kitchen door left open).

Any ideas please :| :| .

 

[paulbrrtt]

Had someone farted? sorry couldnt resist

 

[Aleman]

Sulphur production is a characteristic of some yeast strains . . . Particularly Lager ones . . . Which is why I'm glad I ferment lagers outside

 

[rickthebrew]

i recentley brewed coopers lager with 1kg brewing sugar and 500g white sugar which boosted it to 6% - it stank whilst it fermented!!! I primed with white sugar - 1 full tsp per 550ml bottle, i tasted 1 bottle a week and the first few weeks you could taste the eggy smell - be patient and don`t touch it for four weeks min and you have a great lager - no taint at all, after six weeks it was great - clear, fizzy and all gone!!

i also did a coopers mexican cerveza - same drill (brewing sugar + 200g white sugar for a 5% brew) i`ve got one at the mo after five weeks and its great - so if you are brewing for xmas get them made!! - i`m gonna do two lager kits at the same time and get them bottled and stuck in the shed for xmas!!!

i`ve also just put on a coopers bitter - my LHBS was out of brewing sugar so this one got 700g of light soft brown sugar, 200g white sugar and 300g medium spraymalt.

the coopers kits are a great mid range kit - a lot better then the cheaper geordie range - give them some time and you can get great results, of course the more exspensive all malt kits are really good - try the woodfordes wherry - it was one of my first kits and i regullary brew it for bottle and keg!!


happy brewing !!

 

[theboltongroaner]

On a related subject of funny smells - I'm just a beginner and have just started my first batch; it's a brupaks Birkby Best Bitter: It seems to be fermenting happily after a day or so but it does seem to smell a little bit "sour". I was fairly fanatical about sterilising everything but am a bit worried as I didn't have the facility to boil and cool the "topping up" water - any ideas or am I just over-nervous?

 

[Wez]

On a related subject of funny smells - I'm just a beginner and have just started my first batch; it's a brupaks Birkby Best Bitter: It seems to be fermenting happily after a day or so but it does seem to smell a little bit "sour". I was fairly fanatical about sterilising everything but am a bit worried as I didn't have the facility to boil and cool the "topping up" water - any ideas or am I just over-nervous?

You might be just being a little too nervy, "sour" doesn't sound great but fermentation can throw off some funny smells, wait and see...

 

[Aleman]

Sour to me sounds like CO2 bite . . . . . a good nose full of CO2 from the fermenter is a pretty nasty event. . . . . and of course it forms carbonic acid on the nasal membranes . . . leading to a 'sour' taste signal being sent to the brain.

 

[theboltongroaner]

Great stuff - it seems to be fermenting along nicely still, so will let you know how it turns out!

 

[Chris]

Thanks for everyones input here!! :thumb:

Put's my mind at ease, it still smells like a fart though, but it seems normal. I have 22L of a 23L Youngs kit bottled, this lot will be bottled then another brew on the go straight away, all will be left for xmas.. I may try the Woodfordes kit that rickthebrew suggested : .

:drunk:

 

[rickthebrew]

chris - if you have a wilkos near they do the woodfordes wherry kit for £14.99 - its normally up to £20!!

my nearest wilkos is twenty miles away so when i go i buy at least two kits and they do a limited but cheap homebrew range!

 

[Chris]

I do have a Wilkos 15 mins away, but all they stock are a couple of Geordie brews & 2 Youngs kits :shock: .

 

[rickthebrew]

just checked online with wilkos - they do them online so maybe you could ask them why they don`t stock it or could they get it in for you? worth a try maybe! :pray:

it`s still worth paying the full price though as its very good - my wilkos does a couple coopers (bitter + lager) also a couple tom caxtons kits - just £9.99 each!

:drink: